Superior Hiking
Trail
About Superior Hiking Trail (SHT)
The Superior Hiking Trail is a 310 mile hiking trail that was patterned after the Appalachian Hiking trail. The trail is principally nestled along a rocky ridgeling above the Lake Superior shoreline from Duluth to the Canadian border. National Geographic sites it as “….the best long hike in the country between the Continental Divide and the Appalachian Trail. It covers rugged terrain—bluffs, cliffs, and the spine of the ancient Sawtooth Mountain range—as it traces steams and skirts wild rivers, rises to mighty bluffs overlooking the great lake, and plunges into deciduous forests of birch, aspen, and maple interspersed with redolent stands of boreal spruce and balsam.”
The trail passes through many of Minnesota’s premier state parks that are open year round. It boast’s many dramatic vistas overlooking Lake Superior or the back hills. The trail encompasses constant climbs and descents which is different than long climbs and descents found in mountains. The lowest point, the Trail goes along the lakeshore, which is 602 feet above sea level to as high as 1829 above level. Wild life abounds on the trail from moose, bear, wolves, cougars, coyotes, many bird species… It also, showcases many waterfalls and many less traveled areas to experience serene beauty of the woods of Minnesota.
Don’t feel you have to hike every mile of the Trail to experience its beauty (and toils). People enjoy the SHT a variety of ways! Day hiking: Taking an hour-long amble or all day rigorous hike, but returning home the same day. Through-hiking: Hiking the entire SHT takes at least 3 or more weeks, but the beauty of the trail is you can just do the through hikes that entail from hiking parking lot to parking lot trail heads every 3-11 miles. Be picked up by the Superior Shuttle and taken back to your car where you started.